LETTERS TO ZLÍN FILM FESTIVAL 2017 TOBIAS WIEMANN Germany Film director, winner of the Golden Slipper for Best Film For Children The Mountain Miracle An Unexpected Friendship at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 Magic days in Zlín! It was an amazing experience to attend the Zlín Film Festival. I have never seen such an enthusiastic audience before. We have to take care of our children and listening to them is so important. This festival does both perfectly and with its hospitality, professionalism and friendly atmosphere it is one of my favourite festivals.
ALAIN GSPONER Switzerland Film director (Heidi), member of the International Jury for Feature Film for Children and Youth at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 I enjoyed my time as a jury member very much. I ve participated in so many festivals around the world, but you are extraordinary. I went trough the city and it seemed that every square, every large lawn, every corner celebrated you. The whole city was the festival. The level of the films in the youth section was extremely high. Each movie could be the winner, all of them were so strong, and it was a hard job to make the right decision.
LINDE FRÖHLICH Germany Artistic Director of the Nordic Film Days Lübeck, member of the ECFA jury at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 time passes so quickly but I wanted to let you know that I have kept some wonderful memories of Zlín Film Festival. I spent a very good time in the extraordinary City of Zlín and I was very impressed by the amazing history, tradition and architecture of the city. And I really enjoyed summer in Zlín. Whenever I will remember the summer of 2017 I will remember the hot days in Zlín and the cool nights at Zámek Zlín! But most of all I will remember the nice people I met at the festival. They were all so friendly and dedicated and have given their best to make us feel good and to make the festival a success. It was very well organized and had a very pleasant atmosphere and above all a highquality program. I am quite sure that we will present some of the great films that I discovered in Zlín at the Nordic Film Days Lübeck as well. Please, give my thanks and my regards to all who have contributed to this great experience and relax and recover before the preparations for the next edition of the festival will start!
MARJO KOVANEN Finland Member of the ECFA jury at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 it was absolutely a great opportunity to spend a marvelous week in your beautiful town. I was very happy to surround myself with extraordinary history, film tradition and contemporary lively film culture. It was wonderful to visit this enormous festival dedicated solely to children s film which also is executed with such an enthusiasm and high competence. Thank you! Yours, Marjo
DANIEL HUTTLESTONE United Kingdom Actor (Les Misèrables, Into the Woods, London Town), Young Star at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 Thank you so much for all the support you gave me. I really enjoyed my time and experience out in Zlin and would love to come back next year. Thank you once again all the best.
ROK GOVEDNIK Slovenia Director of film educational institute Vizo and festival director of Eye on Film festival, member of the Zlín Dog jury at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 when I came to Zlín in 2015 for a first time, it amazed me at first sight. Perfectly organized, fulfilled with so wide programme, for children, professionals, in parks, in conference rooms and especially in cinemas. The variety of your film programme is wonderful every year and truly the best guide for preparing my own film festival for children and youth in Slovenia. Among this all, the most beautiful is your crew, which is so enthusiastic, energetic and totally approachable, even more, it's very warm and close to festival guests. For all this reason you are for me the best festival home, where I feel comfortable, always welcome and accepted. Long live the Zlinfest!
ELLA LEMHAGEN Sweden Film director (Tsatsiki, Mum and Policeman, Immediate Boarding), Days of Swedish Cinema guest of honour I was delighted to be invited to the well respected Zlin Film Festival, and I had such a great time there, at the screenings and the other events. I also appreciated to meet colleagues and new friends from all over the world. Thank you so much! I hope to be able to come back to Zlinfest one day.
KIRSTEN CARTHEW, DEVERY JACOBS Canada Film director (The Sun at Midnight) Actress (Rhymes for Young Ghouls, The Sun at Midnight), Young Star at 57 Zlín Film Festival 2017 on behalf of the Team supporting The Sun At Midnight, I want to thank you for including our film in this year s line up, and also for hosting myself and lead actress Devery Jacobs in Zlín during the festival. The festival exceeded all expectations. The lineup was fantastic and we were so thrilled to meet so many talented filmmakers and industry influencers from around the globe. Clearly, yours is a festival that has a legacy of experience everything was so beautifully organized, easy, and smart. This was the first time for both myself and Devery to be in the Czech Republic, and it was a total honour to both represent the film, as well as the Northwest Territories in Canada. The leadership of the festival is outstanding such that everyone we met, from the drivers, to the interns, to your fantastic programmers, were all so wonderful, generous and detailoriented. We are so grateful and proud to have been part of the 57th Zlín Film Festival.
ALICE SCHMID Switzerland Documentary filmmaker (The Children from the Napf), member of the European First Films jury at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 it's a dream for every director to be invited to the world s oldest children's film festival Zlín with the most popular Golden Slipper as a trophy.
PRITHVI KONANUR India Film director (The Railway Children) the warm energy I felt with you is unique. And the fact that it is in a city with the amazing history of the origin of Bata makes it even special. It actually makes me happy to see children being able to be just children and have fun while celebrating films. Wishing for greater things for you in the future.
DANIEL BERGMAN Sweden Film director (Sunday Children, Brenda Brave), Days of Swedish Cinema guest of honour thank you for hospitality, kindness and wonderful care on me and my daughter as guests at the Zlin film festival. Thank you for having us at the 2017 edition.
MIRA FORSELL Sweden Child actress (Up in the Sky), Days of Swedish Cinema guest of honour I thougt it was wery fun to be at the Zlin Film Festival. I am proud and glad that my movie Up in the Sky was a part of the festival. I went there with my Mother, and we had a nice time and was really taken care of. I enjoyed all the activities for kids in Zlin, for example the great playgroung in the park and the lovely Zoo. Hope to se you again! Best Regards Mira Forsell and Tanja Forsell
SLÁVEK HORÁK Czech Republic Film director (Home Care), member of the European First Films jury at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 I had an incredibly wonderful time in Zlín. Everything was perfect in every way. For me my stay was a perfect holiday. I had no idea before that you are so big and so well organized and with so many great films. I will come back to you as soon as possible.
EFIM GRABOY Israel Film director, a winner of the Best Documentary Student Film The Unknown Soldier at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 yesterday I was walking on a street in Tel Aviv, at my hometown, and suddenly i just started to smile, it was because I remembered one of the evenings in Zlin. Every time I'm thinking about those days, I'm a happy person. That evening was one of the last days in Zlin, a week of great emotions in me, I'm choosing my favorite songs on the machine in Hotel Moskva, picking Tame Impala and starting to dance alone. I was so happy in this particular moment, I'm thankful for that moment, this event and everybody around it gave me so much inspiration to live now, to create now. Zlin you will always have a warm part in my heart. And i hope we will meet soon again. Thank to all to people that are working on that event.
NATALIE MINNEVIK Sweden Actress (Elina), Days of Swedish Cinema guest of honour I felt very welcome as a guest to this beautiful festival and wonderful town. Everywhere I went, both in the festival area and in town, I was greeted with happiness and warmth. I will cherish the memories from this festival. I will remember the open and inspiring atmosphere, wonderful gala-evening and all nice new friends that I met.
ARNO ASCHAUER Austria Film director (Brundibár Bridges Across Time and Space) Here, and only here, the power is present, in all its beauty, its fright, its drama: The Cinematographic Power of Storytelling. I feel deeply grateful for this experience, thanks to the 57 th International Film Festival and its organizers.
DAGMAR PETRICK Germany Member of the Ecumenical Jury at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 the happy days of the 57th film festival in Zlín have finally come to an end and we sadly have to say good-bye. But as it has been such a good and enchanting experience, we leave entirely enriched and there is only one thing left to say: Thank you for those precious days, the superb choice of films, the highly professional organization, the hearty welcome, the thrilling atmosphere which involved the entire city! You had the whole world come to Zlín and the world loved to be there. Thank you so much and all the very best for future celebrations!
JURAJ NVOTA Slovakia Film director (Hostage), member of the International Jury for Feature Film for Children and Youth at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 I am grateful for your invitation and thank you for the infusion of young inspirational films and for many new friendships. The festival has a great atmosphere and with its concept it is like any event in the world. I wish the festival lots of love and understanding.
PETROS CHARALAMBOUS Cyprus Film director (Boy on the Bridge) what a wonderful festival made by beautiful, welcoming, passionate, hospitable, smiling and professional people! I enjoyed each moment-from the screenings to the city tours! A great festival to attend with a film that justifies the title of the biggest and oldest festival in the world for children! But most importantly cultivates the film culture to young audiences and creates the future cinema lovers! Thank you for everything!
PETER MACHEN United Kingdom Screenwriter, actor (Just Charlie), winner of the Golden Slipper for Best Film For Youth Just Charlie at 57th Zlín Film Festival 2017 my time at Zlin was fantastic. It's a festival that many others would have a lot to learn from. To see the whole town involved and to create such a positive atmosphere really is a brilliant accomplishment. Often, films with themes for and about children and youth can be looked at with a different perspective. In Zlin that is not the case. I felt that it really was a celebration of film, of storytelling and of expertise. The quality of films at the festival was very high and there were some with very challenging subject matter. Having worked with children and youth for a lot of my career I have learned that they have a voice that needs to be heard. Festivals such as Zlin are a very important platform for that to happen. To have won a Golden Slipper with our first feature was amazing and beyond our expectations. Whenever you are accepted by a festival it is always thrilling because it means another audience will get a chance to see a project that has taken so much time, effort and love to create. We really believe in the film and so
to have others believe in it so much that they want to show it to an audience means a great deal. To then win an award is the cherry on the cake! It gives us energy and conviction and helps with all our new projects. Thank you for having me, it was fantastic, and I really do hope I can return one day! All the very best for the future to the festival and all involved. Thank you, thank you, thank you. What an inspiration you are. To encourage and champion youth, to give them a voice and a choice. To enable them to engage and discuss what matters to them. Keep being brilliant and I hope to see you again one day!